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Lee Bowyer back to bite old boss Gianfranco Zola

Birmingham 1 West Ham 0

AS Lee Bowyer will know only two well, the Cockney colloquialism "two bob" is not a pleasant one when used to describe a footballer. When he left West Ham he was valued at even less than that but no player has proved his worth more in Birmingham City's surge to Premier League respectability than the previously errant midfielder.

In three seasons at Upton Park, Bowyer made 39 starts and scored just five goals. The 52nd-minute strike that beat the club that gave up on him and produced a fourth successive win for the one that showed faith in his ability was Bowyer's sixth this season and third in the past four outings.

"What would he be worth now?" grinned Alex McLeish. "It's difficult to put a price on a Premier League match-winner but he's exceeded all our expectations. He certainly looks a bargain."